Connector plug



Oct. 28, 1941. c, H, JUDISCH 51' AL 2,260,323

CONNECTOR PLUG Filed Feb. 18, 1958 Fla. IO

INVENTOR CHRL H.JUDISCH FIRTHUR HOWRRTH my a -we ATTORNEY neck thereof spread op n,

.. Patented Oct. 28,1941

CONNECTOR'PLUG Carl H. Judisch and Arthur Howarth, Providence, R. I., assignors to The Whitney Blake Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 18, 1938, Serial No. 191,219 12 Claims. (Cl. 173-361) Our invention relates to improvements in connector plugs, preferably of the type having a double leaf spring blade to form a positive contact with its individual retaining socket, and of a type which may be readily assembled by forcibly inserting the spring blades directly within said plug and provided, due to the inherent con- .struction of the spring blade employed with a resiliently expansible lock operative on insertion of the blade within the plug to become permanently self-lockingwithin the plug. o

A further object of our invention is to provide a plug structure into which the blades may be readily pushed or pulled until they have assumed a self-locking position, namely, one in be employed and the a direct line will be formed between each blade slit and the enlarged central aperture in the neck to permit the direct insertion of the spring blade within the plug to a permanent self-locking position, thereby providing a structure having a substantially straight passage for the insertion of the spring blades within the plug and a structure of plug which can be easily removed from the mold as it is provided with no enlarged interior portions which the mold may fill-up and from which-it is difficult, often impossible to remove the mold.

A further object of our invention is to provide a new structure of molded plug which is relatively cheap,

which if a resilient plug seamless and easy to mold.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel structure of spring blade comprising-two integrally attached leaves or legs to give inherent resiliency in the blade itself for positive contact with the blade socket and one which may be made by simple bending operations from strip material.

A further object of our invention is to provide a'blade having a novel type of means for attaching a terminal thereto.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel type of plug with assembled blades and ,cord in which the assembly operation is extreme- 1y simple, and can be readily accomplished on the improved type of. machine and in accordance with our improved method shown in application S. N. 190,456, filed February 14. 1938, for Method of and apparatus for assembling contact blades in connector plugs.

These and such other objects of. ourinvention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawing.

.In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our improved connector plug assembly.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a plurality of spaced blades each having a terminal of a multi-terminal connector cord connected thereto in disassembled position improved plug and Fig. 4 is a vertical'sectional view taken through our improved plug, Figs. 3 and 4 .together forming a disassembled view of the blades in a position aligned, upon the spreading of the neck of the plug, with the blade slits in the plug for the readyassembly of the Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the parts prior to insertion within our shown in Fig. 3 and 4 after they have been assembled, the blades elevation.

Fig. .6 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Figs.,7, 8, 9 and 10 are views identical to those shown in Figs. 3-6 of a different embodiment of our inventionv employing a slightly diiferent and cord being shown in type of means for attaching each terminal to the longer leg or leaf of the blade and with the inner end of the shorter blade provided with a slightly different type of means for looking it within the groove in the plug.. In the drawing, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, l0 generally indicates a connector plug assembly constructed in accordance with our invention.

Said assembly includes the one piece body l2,

I 4 having the plurality the multi-terminal cord of terminals I6 and the spring blades l8 for each respective terminal adapted to extend from and be permanently locked within suitable slits 20 therefor in said plug body I 2.

The one-piece body I! ispreferably molded of resilient material, such as rubber and has a base 22, a hollow neck 24 and in our preferred shape shown has the fiat side walls 26 and end walls 28 tapering from said base 22 to said neck 24, although .if desired assembled in accordance with our improved ,method described in our aforesaid application, s. N. 190,456, filed constructed of resilient material such as rubber ,;so that the neck 24 may be stretched to form a "continuous line for the insertion of each blade l8, comprising each individual blade inserting blades within the plug] the body may be made 01" any shape, but preferably if the blades are to be slit 20 and the enlarged central aperture 30 enlarged or stretched for this purpose. As stated, the plug is provided with the centralaperture 30 extending from said neck to within said body l2 andthe longitudinal slits 20 extending from said base and connected to said aperture, in our preferred embodiment for ease of assembly of the blades 48 within the body, having the inner ends 32 thereof terminating directly within said central aperture 30. The separator 36 is provided to positively separate and insulate each terminal within the plug. The slits 26' thus extended longitudinally on each side of said separator 34 which may terminate in the wedge shaped inner end 36 within said central aperture 36. In accordance with the teachings of our invention, the inner portion-of the, wall of each slit is provided witha substantially hemi-tubular groove 38 extending transversely thereof for a purpose to be described, although if desired the groove may be of any desired shape to contain the expansible self-locking end 40 of the spring leafblade l8. If desired, however, the groove 38 may be formed in the outer portion or any other portion of the walls of the slit 26 other than in the inner portion as shown. 7

As stated, our invention also includes a spring contact blade of novel type which may be readily formed of fiat resilient conducting strip material which may be readily bent upon itself at the outer end 42 thereof to form two legs or leaves 44 and 46 respectively, which may be either substantially adjacent to each other; or be bowed from each other as shown, to. compress when inserted within the blade socket in the plug receptacle to form a positive contact within said blade ,socket due to the inherent resilient tendency of. the legs to expand to uncompressed bowed position. One leg, in the preferred embodiment shown, the outer leg, terminates at the inner end of its respective slit in means adapted to have a cord terminal secured therein, in the preferred embodiment, comprising the tubular loop 48 through which the cordterminal l6 may be inserted, and clamped within, without the necessity of soldering or theme of screws or other separate attaching means, bymere compression of said loop, although any other type of means, such as thehole 48' in the embodiment shown in Figs. 7-9 may be employed and the cord terminal may be retained in position therein by soldering it thereto. The other leg,

' in our preferred embodiment, the inner leg .46 is provided with an inner end also extending within the slit 20 and terminating in self-locking means 40 adapted to be contained within its respective groove 38, in our preferred embodiment comprising the rolled-over tube 40 adapted to be contained substantially within the hemi-tubular groove 38 in the inner wall of the slit 20 for positively retaining the blade l8 in its respective slit. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7-9, said means may merely comprise a projection 40' adapted to register in a groove 38' in the slit wall. The outer portion of the longer leg 44 extends vertically outwardly and the outer portion of the integral shorter leg 46 is bowed relative to said I longer leg 44 beyond the plug to' provide the inherent resiliency of the spring blade when assembled, exterior of the plug to provide a positive contact within the blade socket in the plug receptacle, the legs or leaves compressing during entry within the blade socket to firmly retain the plug assembly to the plug receptacle. How;- ever, the legs or leaves 44 and 46 may be relatively bowedto each other in any fashion, each being curved if desired or the longer or shorter leg being curved and the other straight as shown.

ihe outside and the leg adapted to be attached to the cord terminal IE on the inside. We have shown in Figs. 7-10 a construction having an alternative type of means 38 comprising a hole $8 in the longer leg for brazing, soldering or spot welding a cord terminal thereto and ,an alternative type of expansible or looking projection (40 on the inner end of the shorter leg registering within its respective groove 38' to secure the composite blade within its respective slit 2!).

It is thus obvious that the spring construction of the blade provides two important features, (1) it permits the two leaves or legs exterior of the plug to be relatively bowed to form a positive contact within the blade socket and (2) it provides a self-expansible orself-locking structure which'may be compressed during passage of both legs simultaneously through the restricted por: tion of the plug slit2ll during assembly so that the expansible portion 30 or 40' may inherently resiliently expand within its respective groove 38 or 38 to provide a blade which is self-locking after assembly within the plug.

As stated hitherto, the plug is preferably constructed with theends of the slits 20 discharging directly into the central aperture 30 so that the blades may be readily inserted through the stretched or unstretched neck 24 thereof until the self-locking portions 40 or 40 thereof come opposite their respective grooves 38 or 38" when the inherent resiliency of the spring legs or leaves causes them to relatively expand locking tightly enough for all practical purposes, by the mere forcible insertion of-the blades l8 within the slots 20 during assembly.

limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A connector plug assembly comprising a resilient one piece body having a base, a hollow neck, said body tapering from said base to said neck, a central aperture extending from said hollow neck to within said body and longitudinal slits extending from said base and having inner ends terminating within said aperture, the inner portion of the wall of each slit having a substantially hemi-tubular groove therein, a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture-having each terminal thereof" projecting outwardly to the inner end of each slit,

and spring contact blades, each formed of flat resilient conducting material bent upon itself silient one piece body having a base, a hollow neck, a central aperture extending from said hollow neck to within said body and longitudinal slits extending from said base and connected to said aperture, the inner portion of the wall of each slit having a groove therein, a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each'terminal thereof projecting outwardly to the inner end of each slit, and spring contact blades, each formed of flat resilient conductingmaterial bent on itself to form twolegs having the outer ends thereof integrally joined together, the longer leg terminating in an inner end at the inner end of its respective slit in means connecting one of said cord terminals to said leg inner end, said longer leg extending substantially vertically outwardly and the in-' tegral shorter legbeing bowed inwardly relative to said longer leg beyond said plugand having an inner end also'extending within said slit and terminating in a projection contained within and engaging the Walls of the groove in the inner wall of the slit to anchor said blade within said plug against axial movement in either direction.

3. A connector plug assembly comprising a one piece body having abase, a hollow neck, a central aperture extending from said hollow neck to within said body and longitudinal slits extending from said base and connected to said aperture, the wall of each slit having a substantially hemitubular groove therein, amulti-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal thereof projecting outwardly to the inner end of each slit, and spring contact blades, each formed of flat resilient conducting material bent upon itself to form two legs having the outer ends thereof integrally joined together, one of said legs terminating at the innerend of its respective slit in a tubular loop having a cord terminal secured within, sail legs extending substantially vertically outwardly and being bowed relative to each other beyond said plug and the other. of said legs having an inner end also extending within said slit and, terminating in a rolled over tube contained within the tubular groove in the wall of the slit. I

4. A connector plug assembly comprising a one 3 nector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal thereof projecting outwardly to the inner end'of each slit, and spring contact blades, each formed of flat resilient conducting material bent upon itself to form two legs having the outer ends thereof integrally joined together, one of said legs termipiece body having a base, a hollow neck, a central aperture extending from ,said hollow neck to within said body, longitudinal slits extending from said base and connected to said aperture,

' the wall of each slit having a groove therein, a

multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal thereof projecting outwardly to the inner end of each slit, and spring contact blades, each formed of flat resilient conducting material bent upon itself 'to form two legs having the outer ends thereofi'ntegrally joined together, one of said' legs terminating inan inner end at the inner end of its respective slit in means connecting one of said cord terminals to said leg inner end, said legs extending substantially vertically outwardly and being bowed relative to each other beyond said plug and the other of said legs having an inner end also extending within said slit and terminating in a projection contained within and engaging the walls of the groove in the wall of the slit to anchor said blade within said plug against axial movement in-either direction.

5. A connector plug assembly comprising a one piece body having a base, a hollow neck, a central aperture extending from said hollow neck to within said body, longitudinal slits extending from said base and having inner. ends terminating within said aperture, the wall of each slit nating in an inner end at the inner end of its respective slit in means connecting one of said cord terminals to said leg inner end, said legs extending substantially vertically outwardly and being bowed relative to each other beyond said plug and the other of said legs having an inner end also extending within said slit and terminating in a projection contained within and engaging the walls of the groove in the wall of the slit to anchor said-blade within said plug against axial movement in either direction.

6. A connector plug assembly comprising a one piece body having a base, a hollow neck, a central aperture extending. from said hollow neck to within said body and longitudinal slits extending from said base and connected to said aperture, the wall of each slit having a substantially hemitubular groove therein, a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal thereof projecting outwardly to the inner end of each slit,-and spring contact blades, each formed of flat resilient conducting material bent upon itself to form two legs having the outer ends thereof integrally joined together,- one of said legs terminating at the inner end of its respective slit in a tubular loop having a cord terminal secured Within, said legs extending substantially vertically outwardly beyond said plug and the other of said legs having an inner end also extending within said slit and terminating in a rolled over tube contained within the tubular groove in the wall of the slit.

'7. A connector plug assembly comprising a one piece body having a base, hollow neck, a central aperture extending from said hollow neck to within said body, longitudinal slits extending from said base and connected to said aperture, the wall of each slit having a groove therein, a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal thereof projecting outwardly to the'inner end of each slit, and spring contact blades, each formed of fiat resilient conducting material bent upon itself to form two legs having the outer ends thereof integrally joined together, one of said legs terminating in an inner end at the inner end of its respective slit in means connecting one of said cord terminals to said leg inner end, said legs extending substantially vertically outwardly beyond said plug and the other of said legs havingan inner end also extending within said slit and terminating in a projection contained within and engaging the walls of the groove in the wall of the slit to anchor said blade within said plug against axial movement in either direction.

8. A connector plug assembly comprising a resilient one piecebody having a base, a hollow neck, a central aperture extending from said hollow neck to within said body and longitudinal slits extending. from said base and connected to having a groove therein, a multi-terminal con- 76 minal connector cord each slit having a groove therein, a multi-tercontained within the central aperture having each terminal'thereof projecting outwardly to the inner end of each slit, and spring contact blades, each formed of flat resilient conducting material bent on itself to 1 form two legs having the outer ends thereof integrally joined together, the longer leg terminating in an inner end at the inner end of its respective slit in means connecting one of said i cord terminals to said leg inner end, said longer leg extending substantially vertically outwardly and the integral shorter leg being bowed inwardly relative to said longer leg beyond said plug and having an inner end also extending within said slit, one of said legs having a projection contained within and engaging the walls of the groove in the inner wall of the slit to an- 9. An attachment plug comprising a resilient integrally joined at the outer end of said contact portion, one leg being bowed away from said 1 other leg which is substantially straight, the bowed leg being shorter in length than the other leg and terminating in a projection lying within the notch in the slot and engaging the walls of.

chor said blade within said plug against axial movement in either direction.

the notch to hold the blade against longitudinal .1 movement in either direction in said slot..

10. A connector plug of the type described,

1 comprising a one-piecebody having a pair .of 3 contact-positioning slots formed therein, said slots converging to form a recess open at the opposite side of said body, one wall of each slot having a notch formed therein; and a pair of 3 contacts each having a conductor secured thereto, said contacts being simultaneously insertable 1 through the recess and into said slots, each of said contacts comprising astrip of spring metal having one end thereof bent upon itself, the retumed end being bowed outwardly with respect to the other end and terminating short of the other end in a projecting means received within the notch formed in the wall of each-slot and holding the contact against movement therein.

11. A connector plug of the type described, comprising a one-piece body having a pair of passageways formed therein, said passageways converging to form a recess open at the opposite side of said body, one wall of each passageway having a notch formed therein; a pair of contacts each having a conductor secured thereto, said contacts being simultaneously insertable through the recess and into said passageways, each -of said contacts comprising two legs of spring metal, the outer leg of the contacts being substantially straight and disposed in parallel relationship, the inner legs having rear portions adjacent the plug body arranged in forwardly diverging relationship and beyond said diverging portions, front portions of converging form, each inner leg being integrally joined to its outer leg at the outer end of said contacts; and means carried by one of the legs of each contact received within the notch of each passageway for holding the contacts against longitudinal movement in the passageways.

12. A connector plug of the type described comprising a one-piece resilient body having a pair of passageways formed therein, said passageways converging to form a recess open at the opposite side of said body; a pair of contacts each having a conductor secured thereto, said contacts being simultaneously insertable through the recess and into said passageways, each of said contacts comprising two legs of spring metal, the outer legs of the contacts being substantially straight and disposed in parallel relationship, the inner legs having rear portions adjacent the plug body arranged in forwardly diverging-relationship and beyond said diverging portions, front portions of converging form, each inner leg being integrally joined to its outer le at the outer end of said contacts; and means formed on said contacts for interlockingly engaging with means carried by the walls of the .slots for holding the contacts against longitudinal movement in either direction in the slots.

CARL H. JUDISCH. ARTHUR HOWARTH. 

